Welcome - If this is your first visit you will find a "Welcome Introduction' message and a link to "Prayer Reflections" located on top right side of page.
My prayer today is that "Abba will saturate you with His grace, mercy & peace. Please sit down comfortably, relax with a cuppa & enjoy!

Sunday, October 23, 2011

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer at three in the afternoon. Acts 3:1

Disciplined prayer arises from two things:

First, a good general knowledge of God's Word;

Second, a strong desire to please Him.

In other words, I am talking here about praying as an act of sheer obedience whether we feel like it or not.

And it is the mature Christian who follows this way.

You may decide to spend more time in prayer, but then you find that everything seems to militate against it.

So you think, These things that are stopping me praying are providential. So don't be surprised if, when you commit yourself to prayer, everything seems to be hindering you.

There must be discipline.

One of the forgotten verses in the Book of Acts is the opening verse of chapter 3. The chapter goes on to describe how Peter and John healed the crippled man, but what is interesting is that it happened when they were on their way to the temple to pray. We see that even when the Spirit was present in great power, these early disciples were not afraid to go by a schedule. At this high peak in the history of the church it would seem that the first Christians still observed set times of prayer.

The principle is that if you live by the disciplined impulse, you will get the spontaneous impulse as well .....

Here were Peter and John on their way to the temple, when the lame beggar held out his hand to them, expecting to receive some money. But Peter just turned to him and said, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk" (v. 6, KJV). And the man was healed.

You never outgrow the need to pray. It is my job, not only as a Christian minister but also as a child of God, never to excuse myself again for what I haven't done regarding time spent in prayer.

Friday, October 14, 2011

If you have ever handled sulfuric acid, you know how dangerous it is. It would eat away at your skin if it spilled on you.

Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue..."

If death is in the power of the tongue, will touching it hurt you like touching acid?

No, obviously that's not how it works. The death and the life the tongue can produce are not about the tongue itself but about the words it helps to create. The words can produce life and death. They can be like an infusion of vigor or like a slow poison.

Words are containers. They carry in them the power to teach and instruct, lift up and encourage, create humor and laughing, to bring peace and joy, and hope where hope was lost. They are also containers that can mock, belittle, embarrass, tear down, deceive, and destroy.

As we just read, "Death AND life are in the power of the tongue..." This is telling us that these containers we let come from our mouths have powerpower to bring and support life or power to destroy. We probably don't realize how careless we can be with this power source that absolutely lifts up or tears down.

I wouldn't handle electrical wires without turning off the power source. Even though electricity is meant to be a blessing, it has to be channeled properly or it could kill. The same is true with our words.

As a young Christian, the Lord instructed me to listen to the words I'd hear people speak. This wasn't to be judgmental but to learn and pay attention to the good or bad words accomplished.

I did what the Lord said, except that I started with myself. I couldn't believe the words I'd let come out my mouth. They were often negative and too often words of death such as, "I'm going to lose my mind if this happens to me one more time...." or "It seems like everyone is getting the flu. I'll probably get it next." or "With the way the economy is going, I'll probably be lucky if I have a job by next year and if I do, they'll probably ask for a cut in pay." I could tell you a hundred phrases filled with negative, death-filled words that were a part of my regular speaking.

I began to listen to those around me, "Ha ha! The way I eat I'll probably be dead by the time I'm forty!" "Well, with the way my luck is going, if there is a drive-by shooter, he'll probably hit me! Ha ha!"

I was amazed at what I was hearing from myself as well as from those around me.

As I studied God's Word more, I began to understand that Words are a powerful part of God's creation and a creative force in itself. From the beginning of Genesis with everything He created He began by speaking "let there be...."

Everything God spoke, came into existence. He created everything we see from things that did not appear.

This is exactly what Hebrews 11:3 is telling us. "By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible."As I journeyed through the Word I noticed that God never spoke an idle wordand neither did Jesus.

My point today is that words are containers of power. They do affect us whether we realize it or not
whether we want to believe it or not. We all have experienced times when someone's words brought hurt to you possibly unbeknownst to the person who said them. They just blabbed them and they hurt you.

How could that happen? It could happen because words contain power.

Does that mean every word I speak is a power source? The answer is yes. It's just that it's not always measurable at the moment. Someone's kind words can make you feel good and even cry. Someone's destructive words can make you feel horrible and cry. We don't grasp the power of our words and all the ways they affect our life but they do. All words always have some effect.

I learned long ago to make words work for me. Just as a framer frames a house before he can build the rest of it, I purpose to frame my world with words that encourage others and myself in God's will and plan.

If your tongue has power, you have power. You can frame your world with acceptable words that please God and create life and blessing for others, or you can spill words like sewage that bring hurt. God's will is always to bring life!

"Prayers to pray using Scripture' can be found in September 2009 archive (located on lower right hand side of this page). More articles about using affirmations can also be found in 'Prayer Reflections' May 2007 Archive (link to this can be found at top of page on right side.)

"Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks." Luke 12:35-36, ESV

Jesus so often challenges us and gives us responsibilities. To those who don't yet know Him as their Lord and Master He says 'repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near' (Matthew 4:17), but for those who belong to Him, love Him and know Him there are further responsibilities as they live in His Kingdom.

I like the simplicity of this instruction 'Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning'. Do you wonder what our lamps could be?

How about our passion for Jesus and the things of the Holy Spirit?

Jesus talks about the light in us. First of all, once we have the light of Jesus burning in our hearts, we must let others know.

'No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light' (Luke 11:33).

Then we have the responsibility to make sure the light doesn't go out or grow dim. Jesus says we must be 'careful' about that.

'Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light' (Luke 11:34-36).

How can we keep our lamp burning?

We can fix our eyes on the glory of Jesus and focus on praise and worship to Him. Not only can we pray those prayers of intercession, however short or long, and whatever time of day or night, but we can to continually give thanks and tell Him we love Him (rather than grumbling and complaining).

We can also saturate ourselves in the Word of God each day.

Our eye can look upon its light and take in as much as possible. And yet even that isn't enough. We must also put into practice what we read in the Bible. 'But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!' (Luke 11:28). Yes Jesus is coming back and we must be ready to meet Him at His return, or meet Him before then as we step into eternity. 'This night your soul is required of you' (Luke 12:19  21).

In Jesus' illustration the good servant is alert for the return of his master and aims to please him. The master comes back from the wedding banquet is so delighted with this servant that he gives him a huge reward. He actually waits upon him and serves him. What could be more surprising than that?

But the bad servant will be punished, for 'Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more' (Luke 12:48).

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for the light You bring to me. Please help me to keep it burning. I want to be ready when you return so I can open the door for You and welcome You back. Amen.

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To those who are victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. Revelation 2:7 NIV

THOUGHT: Jesus uses the Holy Spirit to speak to his people, his churches, in the second and third chapter of the book of Revelation.

But don't you believe that if we seek God and are striving to worship God empowered by the Spirit, then the Spirit will also speak to us in fresh and powerful ways through God's word?

When we open the Bible, more happens than mere reading!

The Spirit who inspired that word also convicts us and calls out to us and corrects us and seeks to conform us to the will of God and the character of Jesus. So let's open our Bibles with expectation that the Spirit will use these old words in fresh and new ways and give us new insights for our old battles.

PRAYER: O God, help me hear your Word in the ways you want me to hear it. Shape and make me more like Jesus, your Living Word and Ultimate Word, as the Spirit works on my heart. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Source: Used with permission from "Heartlight" October 15, 2011 The SpiritFire daily devotional email is written by Phil Ware and is a year long devotional walk focused on the blessing of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Visit http://www.heartlight.org/devotionals for other devotionals.

Those are the words of Paul Simon. A rather cynical perspective, wouldn't you say? God, powerful as He may be, is removed from the affairs of all of us little people. He doesn't speak to us, hasn't the courtesy to even let us in on His big plan. We simply glide down the highway of life, uninformed, unaware of the profound reality. Life is just slip sliding away. . .so the song goes. Deal with it.

This song could melt some of us into a puddle of melancholy goo. But before we run to the freezer to soothe our inner angst with a pint of Häagan Dazs, we need to hear the words of another Paul.

How can you stand fast when at times your life feels like it is completely out of control?

Let me answer that question with another question.

How do you think Paul the Apostle could have the stability to endure all those beatings, storms at sea, stonings, shipwrecks, cold, hunger, attacks against his authority, attacks against his message, attacks against his integrity, and still be a rock?

He gives us the answer in verse 20 of the previous chapter.

"Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body" (NIV).

who by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control,

will transform our lowly bodies so they will be like his glorious body!

God is able with His power to bring everything under His control! That is how you stand firm in shaky places. You, right down to your littlest concerns, are under His control. So you can take your hands off the steering wheel!

In the big and small things we face in life, no matter if it is a crisis or a petty quarrel, when seen in the context of the hugeness of the universeand the God who hangs the stars in space and also loves youthis truth should have a stabilizing effect.

If not, perhaps it is because you haven't really believed it is true.

Can you see your life in the view of God's ultimate big picture?

Until you do, you won't have the inner stability to stand firm.

Maybe you need to step outside your front door and look up at the night sky and the vastness of space. If you can see the Big Dipper or Venus, let it thrill you.

Or simply google the Hubble telescope and gaze at the images of the universe. Think about how great and powerful this God is who has etched you on the palms of His hands!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

I have posted the link below as found this short movie illustrates how many view reading the bible. May it bless you & inspire you to be encouraged to read God's word.~~~~~~~~THE SKINNY ON THE BIBLESkit Guys - Mini-Movies

At the center of our faith is a book that tells the story of God and his activity in the lives of men and women throughout history–yet everyone seems to have their own unique perspective on it.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

"crucify". . .He could hear the hatred in their voices,These were His chosen people. He loved them,And they were going to crucify Him.He was beaten, bleeding and weakened . . .

His heart was broken,But still He walked.

He could see the crowd as He came from the palace.He knew each of the faces so well. He had created them.He knew every smile, laugh, and shed tear,But now they were contorted with rage and anger . . .

His heart broke,But still He walked.

His disciples had left, denied, and even betrayed Him.He searched the crowd for a loving face and He saw very few.Then He turned His eyes to the only One that matteredAnd He knew that He would never be alone.He looked back at the crowd,At the people who were spitting at Him,Throwing rocks at Him and mocking Him, and He knewThat because of Him, they could be forgiven and never be alone.So for them, He walked.

The sounds of the hammer striking the spikes echoed through the crowd.The sounds of His cries echoed even louder,The cheers of the crowd, as His hands and feetWere nailed to the cross, intensified with each blow.Loudest of all was the still small voiceInside His heart that whispered "I am with You, My Son",And God's heart broke.He had let His Son walk.

Jesus could have asked God to end His suffering,But instead He asked God to forgive;Not to forgive Him,But to forgive the ones who were persecuting Him.As He hung on that cross, dying an unimaginable death,He looked out and saw, not only the faces in the crowd,But also, the face of every person yet to be,And His heart filled with love.As His body was dying, His heart was alive.Alive with the limitless, unconditional love He feels for each of us.That is why He walked.

When I forget how much my God loves me,I remember His walk.

When I wonder if I can be forgiven,I remember His walk.

When I need reminder of how to live like Christ,I think of His walk.

And to show Him how much I love Him,I wake up each morning, turn my eyes to Him,And I walk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things."

My Blog List

Welcome Introduction

Welcome to a new series I have started called "Reflection Jewels" that I believe Abba has laid on my heart to do.

My prayer for you is that as you read these "Reflection Jewels' they will motivate & inspire you to read Gods word more often. Also you will receive fresh revelation, direction were needed & encouragement - enjoy!

Many ask, "How do you know what to send or post that just meets my need?" The truth is I don’t - All I know is that I receive many messages & after praying & reading I feel led to lay aside certain select messages written by many anointed men & women of God. At a later date I just follow those gentle prompts of the Holy Spirit when to post - if I do not have peace I delay.

God knows the needs of each of His children and the word or encouragement is already prepared waiting for you. Remember You are precious to Abba!

One day I was watching a fascinating program called "Survival In the Bush' presented by Malcolm Douglas in the wild rugged outback of Australia. - In one of the stories he helped a lady find small deposits of gold using a 'gold detector' - they also had great fun panning for gold in the river this left deposits of murky lumps of rock in their bowl. Afterwards they then went back to her small factory & went step by step through a very old process were there collection was cleaned, tumbled, filtered, treated with chemicals this process continued until till there were only small nuggets of gold remaining, these then went through another process of heating until at the end she had a solid block of pure gold.

As I was watching I kept thinking how reading Gods word the Bible can be compared to this process. As we read the word "panning the gold in the stream" we find precious words 'gold dust'. The more we continue reading, meditating, soaking & studying Gods word we find more precious nuggets of gold or jewels. Thus the idea to call these messages "Jewels' was born.

I strongly believe the Lord is putting out a call to His people (all of us) to come into a deeper place spiritually, giving us a deeper understanding, and a deeper love for Him. "Deep calleth unto deep.." (Psalms 42:7a)

One of the ways we can do this is to read & meditate or reflect upon the Word of God. This should be a part of our regular and constant spiritual discipline.

To those who already read the word frequently may you be refreshed & revisit some of those familiar passages with fresh eyes.

I found helpful reading and comparing a different translation to my usual daily trusted version. I also found it refreshing with a different bible not having my pencil & highlighter marks to distract from fresh revelation. I suggest before reading you ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you new truths as you mine for new jewels in His word. Be blessed as you read today!

Psalm 119:11 says,Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. As we become soaked & filled with the word in our hearts the Spirit of God will enlighten our understanding & when needed bring to mind the word that is needed.

The Scriptures describe the kingdom of God as treasure. Matthew 13:44-46 NIV" The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

Suggestion: Pray as you read and meditate on God's Word. Praise God for what He has revealed of Himself and pray for strength and wisdom to obey His direction. Try also reading some prayers of the Bible (Matt. 6:9-13; Ephesians I: 15-23; 3: 14-21 and many of the Psalms).

Please note: Some of the messages have links that if used may take you away from the message – to return just click the ‘back’ button at the top left hand corner of your screen.

If you wish to return to the Home page of the SWPW site lease scan to the top of the page & press the arrow ‘back” or go direct via the link: http://www.swpwarriors.com/

Please feel free to print out or copy the ‘reflections’ for personal use. All messages are referenced (were known) & permission sought to use. I do ask you to respect at all times copyright of all Authors & the SWPW site.

If you would like to be on my mailing list for "Reflection Jewel updates' & encouragements please write to me at

Bible Translations

Which Version Should we Use:

I do not wish to get stuck in debate which Bible Translation one should use - Personally I prefer & regularly use the King James Version of the bible - however when studying a scripture I like to read & compare other translations - each must decide for themselves - please find a list below of abbreviations & what they mean:

Bible Translations:

KJV - King James VersionNKJV - New King James VersionNIV - New International VersionNLT - New Living TranslationCEV - Contemporary English VersionESV - English Standard VersionMSG - The MessageNASB - New American Standard BibleRSV - Revised Standard Version